Women's Basketball

Women's Hoops Upends Defending WCC Champions 79-67

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -
Senior forward Annie Garrison led four Broncos in double-digit scoring with 19 points as Santa Clara opened West Coast Conference play by defeating the defending league champion Pepperdine 79-67 tonight at the Leavey Center.

The Broncos improve to 10-3 overall, 1-0 in the WCC, while winning seven of their last eight contests. The Waves fall to 10-6 on the season, 0-1 in league play. Although the Broncos ended a three-game losing streak to Pepperdine, the Waves still lead the all time series 21-15.

Down by eight at halftime, the Broncos pulled to within 44-42 of the Waves with a Garrison layup, assisted by sophomore forward Julie Butler, one of Santa Clara's 22 assists on the night. Garrison scored again on a post move, this time fed by fellow senior Jennifer Glysson, to take a 45-44 lead. After multiple lead changes at the midway point of the second period, the Broncos started building on their lead, reversing the halftime deficit with four minutes left on a fallaway shot by junior Becki Ashbaugh from the near corner.

A Butler post move with 2:45 left in the contest gave Santa Clara a double-digit lead as it headed toward the final margin. The Broncos outscored Pepperdine by 20 points after intermission en route to a season-high 65.2 percent shooting from the field for the game.

In addition to Garrison's 19 points, Butler added 17, followed by junior Caroline Gruening with 16 and Ashbaugh with 12. Additionally, Ashbaugh dished out seven assists while Garrison was just one rebound short of a double-double, with nine boards.

Pepperdine was led by Nadja Morgan's 15 points. Shandrika Lee added 11, followed by Damaris Hinojosa with 10.

Just 11 minutes into the game, a three-pointer and a layup by Wave Sarah Richen gave Pepperdine its biggest lead of the night, 13 points, at 31-18.

The Broncos close out a five-game homestand with another conference opponent. Santa Clara hosts Loyola Marymount on Saturday, Jan. 13. The game will begin at 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center.